As a new week is rolling in today, I’ve been thinking about our places of worship. I love going to church. I was raised in church from the time I was born. We never woke up on Sunday mornings and asked my parents if we were going to church. We just knew the answer already. Our children have been raised the same way. But why?
Why make church the focal point of our lives?
God’s Word tells us in Colossians 1:18 WHO is the head of the church. That is Jesus! “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Jesus died for the church so why not place an importance on going to His House.
Paul gave us another clear picture in Ephesians 5:23 when he compared Christ’s place in the church to the husband’s in the home. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world.
He came to establish His church. Matthew 16:18 reads in part, “…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” If He could leave the splendors of Heaven to save a lost and dying world and establish a church for us, how can we not make it a focal point in our lives?
What makes church the focal point of our lives?
Traditions are great, right? Every family has a tradition on how they celebrate everything from birthdays to weddings to holidays. We tell our historical narratives from our families of how our forefathers celebrated or accomplished things. Traditions have their place. Church is a place we gather to worship a risen Savior and to learn the truths in God’s Word. It is simple a place we gather to gain knowledge and encouragement for our week ahead.
How did the early New Testament Christians accomplish this?
They, at first, met in the Temple for semi-large gatherings until it was destroyed in AD 70. They primarily met, though, in houses. Gathering in small groups and studying God’s Word together. They did this for fellowship and for study. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Acts 2:46)
They loved God’s Word and they loved to study it. In Acts 17 we read about the believers (Bereans) who desired to know God. In verse 11, Luke tells us how they accomplished this. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Church is thus made for receiving God’s Word into our hearts and lives and fellowshipping with fellow Christians. Traditions may have their place but we mustn’t let them consume us. The “bells and whistles” of our churches today have become distractions from the true study and knowledge of God’s Word. When we can study and know God’s Word we can become closer to Him. This gives us strength to live in a fallen and torn world.
Brethren, let’s meet to worship Him and Him alone today!
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Clicking on this link and listen to my girls sing this song. It has some great thoughts in it. Delve, yourselves, into studying God’s Word this week and seek to find your joy in Him.